title: The production of secondary caries-like lesions on cavity walls and the assessment of microleakage using an in vitro microbial caries system.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess microleakage along restored cavity walls using a new in vitro microbial technique. Extracted human teeth containing cavities restored with a microfine posterior composite were incubated in broth inoculated with a single strain of Streptococcus mutans for 10 days, using a sequential batch culture technique. Each margin of the cavities was finished in one of three ways: butt joint and etching; butt joint and no etching, or; bevel joint and etching. The assessment of microleakage was achieved by examining sections of the teeth histologically using polarized light for the presence or absence of caries-like cavity wall lesions. Outer (surface) lesions were also examined and displayed the characteristic zones of early natural caries lesions. The cavity wall lesions were observed as a translucent zone in 31% of butt and unetched margins, 16% of butt and etched margins, and 5% of bevelled and etched margins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Dental School, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gilmour
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Edmunds
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dummer
mesh_terms: D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D000293:Adolescent; D001641:Bicuspid; D002648:Child; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003736:Dental Cavity Lining; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D006801:Humans; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins